- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
Legendary former Australian cyclist Phil Anderson wrote for The Roar in 2012 – take a look at some of his best work from 2012, as we look forward to the 2013 season:
Gerrans shows huge heart to win a classic
“At 3am Sunday morning, the phone started buzzing. After continual buzzing and sleepy frustration I rolled over to look at the phone and realised with astonishment and absolute joy that Simon Gerrans had posted the most significant result of his career.”
GreenEDGE needs results heading into Tour season
After early season competitiveness, GreenEDGE needed to perform in the Grand Tours of 2012 and the WorldTour season.
“Staying with GreenEDGE, the results have been steady and I think the team should be pleased with the start of the season. The women’s results have been outstanding, while Gerro’s Milan-San Remo was extraordinary.
“This early start gave the team a good standing in the points ratings.
“Without a rider to star in the overall results in the Grand Tours, the classics were where the team was expected to gain strong early season’s results, having Goss for Flanders and Roubaix and Gerro traditionally a place getter in the Ardennes classics.
“With the Spring classics now behind them, GreenEDGE would be taking stock of their results and focusing on the build up to the Giro and Tour of California in the upcoming preparation races such as the Tour of Romandie and the Tour of Turkey.
“GreenEDGE needs to focus on maintaining some results as the season heads towards the Euro summer and steadying a potential slide to the lower end of the rankings as we hit the Tour season.”
Giro becoming a better race than Tour de France
Arguably both the Giro and the Vuelta offered better racing for cycling fans in 2012 – and the prime time networks paid attention.
“With the Giro and Tour of California behind us, we really should reflect on how lucky we are.
I do try not to reminisce, but it is almost inconceivable that my first experiences relating to international cycling were gleaned from magazines and books in the local library.
Prime time allocations on the networks are given to cycle sport.
Despite our howls of protest, the commercial networks are paying attention and the sponsors are far happier with a commercial outcome.”
Cycling overload with Giro and Tour of California
“After a week of this year’s Giro d’Italia, and the Tour of California, cycling fans Australia wide are getting to work late and tired. It’s great.
At this point of the race, GreenEDGE has been doing an epic job of finding their way to the front in the closing kilometres at the right time”
“If it’s a field sprint, you don’t wish to be seen until the final 200 metres – however to win against the likes of Cavendish – GreenEDGE needs to do more than just be there, you need to be there with very strong kick to finish it off.”
Don’t give up on Cadel on the Tour
Phil stuck with Cadel Evans, but fatigue, illness, the might of Team Sky and sabotage all conspired against the 2011 Tour winner defending his crown.
“The 2012 Tour is well underway now and my hope is that Cadel will remain strong and pull back the time he has lost.
My fear is not that Wiggins is better, but that Froome and Porte are better than Cadel. They are, in their own right, general classification contenders.
Sky is dominating the race. Pre-tour, it always looked to be the case: the strength of their support team is formidable.”
Lance Armstrong – acceptance, but where to from here
Phil Anderson’s most important piece from 2012 – his acceptance of Lance Armstrong’s doping allegations after USADA’s weight of evidence was released.
“There are, and there will remain forever, many who continue to believe in Lance Armstrong’s truth.
I for one wanted to believe that he had returned to the top level of cycling post cancer, a miracle.
The story was one of hope for all cancer suffers, one of grit and recovery for aspiring cyclists.
I am humbled and disappointed, not because I don’t believe the evidence but because I didn’t want to believe it true. I knew him, I roomed with him.”
Fancy a wager on your favourite sport? Head on over to PlayUp for great odds and friendly customer service and pick a winner. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.